Maple Syrup and Birthday Cupcakes

This past weekend a good friend from high school was visiting Boston. K had a conference here last week and stayed to hang out this weekend. On top of hanging out with friends, Butler made it to the Final Four! K went to Butler and is the president of his local alumni club!


On Saturday we decided to partake in some local fun by heading up to New Hampshire to go to a maple house where they boil maple syrup. We had beautiful weather on Saturday. It was a bit chilly but sunny and not a cloud in the sky. After arriving at the Grant Family Maple House, we had some food and got in line to learn all about how maple syrup is made.


What we learned is that the sap from the trees has about 2-3% sugar in it straight from the tree. At that percentage, it would take 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of maple syrup!! So they first condense the sap until it reaches about 8% sugar. The sap is then boiled to evaporate off the water.


Once the temperature reads 7 degrees above the boiling point of water, you have syrup! The guy in the maple house even explained how they use a baraometer on the wall to get the barometric pressure so they know the exact boiling temperature of water for that given day. It was all very scientific and extremely interesting.


The small bottles of maple syrup were a sample from each batch they had made at the maple house this season. The guy explained that as the season goes on, the syrup tends to get darker due to the change in the amount of sugar in the sap.


Of course, we had to get some maple products while we were there. Obviously, maple syrup. We also got some maple candies, some maple sugar, and some maple pepper. Can’t wait to find creative ways to use the sugar and pepper. If anyone has suggestions, please let me know!


Also, since K’s birthday was last week, I made him some cupcakes to celebrate. I went with my go-to chocolate cupcake recipe. I love that you can whip these up by dirtying only one bowl and using a whisk! I dipped them in some ganache and topped with festive sprinkles. Aren’t they pretty?

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12 Responses to “S’mores Brownies”

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    Boston Food Diary — October 6, 2010 at 1:07 pm

    whoa…I think I’m speechless! I have seen S’mores Brownies before, I have even tasted them- in well known restaurants- and these look 100% better and tastier! Well done- I might be knocking on your door for a taste!!!

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    vickdn — October 6, 2010 at 2:54 pm

    here is another smores recipe I just saw… if you are looking for more smores recipes!

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    vickdn — October 6, 2010 at 2:55 pm

    it would help if I gave you the link…. lol enjoy!

    http://www.visionsofsugarplum.com/2010/10/smores-biscotti.html

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    Fun and Fearless in Beantown — October 6, 2010 at 3:20 pm

    I just saw your photos and seriously almost drooled. You never cease to amaze me Jen!

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    Jen — October 6, 2010 at 6:04 pm

    vickdn – I saw that smores biscotti this morning! Looks great.

    Fun and Fearless – don’t get any drool on your monitor!

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    Eliana — October 6, 2010 at 6:13 pm

    I’m not surpsied everyone at your work loved these. They look amazing!

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    newlywed — October 6, 2010 at 10:09 pm

    Wow! These look like a great excuse to buy a kitchen torch!

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    Lindsay — October 6, 2010 at 10:22 pm

    Yum! I love love love s’mores. I even make them in the winter using the gas stove, so this recipe is definitely going to make it on my list of ones to try 🙂

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    kitchenmisfit — October 10, 2010 at 9:05 pm

    Looks amazing! Can’t wait to make them!

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    nutmegnanny — October 12, 2010 at 2:38 am

    I love S’mores brownies! The combination of all the flavors, in a less messy bar form, make me smile 🙂

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    nutmegnanny — October 12, 2010 at 2:38 am

    I love S’mores brownies! The combination of all the flavors, in a less messy bar form, make me smile 🙂

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    stacey — January 13, 2011 at 11:38 pm

    I’m making them right now..It seemed that during cooking one row of my graham crackers started to rise to the surface of the brownies…and the center is still undercooked but the edges are cooked.. I hope they turn out ok…They look awesome

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